• Weekly workshops at area schools
• Summer digital media programs
• Internship opportunities
• Service learning hours
• Opportunity to connect, collaborate and take action on important issues

"Puget SoundOff helped me, and motivated me, and pushed me into a different direction."

                                  - Bruce, PSO Blogger

 

"I think it's better our opinions get out past the classroom because if we can't say what we want to say...how are we gonna change anything?"

                                  -Shantelle, PSO Blogger

Get Engaged

 In partnership with the City of Seattle, young adults (18-29) are appointed by the Mayor and approved by City Council to serve as full-voting members on City Boards and Commissions for one year. Participants serve on boards ranging from Landmarks Preservation to The Arts; Human Rights to Design Review. Commissioners are charged with helping shape policy decisions, make recommendations, and provide citizen participation in city government. Additionally this group meets as a cohort to address topics of civic engagement, aspects of local government and social justice throughout the year. These emerging leaders are making a difference today serving the Seattle community as they continue to learn critical skills in board service, public participation and leadership. 

YMCA Earth Service Corps (YESC) 

WONDERING HOW YESC BEGAN?

1989-

"Have I fulfilled my service learning graduation requirement? YES, but more importantly, much more importantly, I believe that I can make a difference. I know I can, because through YESC I already have."

                                         -Allison, YESC Alumna

 Here are just a few of the cool service projects our YESC students have been a part of:  

·             Paint environmental murals 

·         Sponsor a letter writing campaign and/or petition signing

·         Organize field trips to a local landfill, water reservoir, fish hatchery, or other interesting location

·         Invite environmental speakers to speak at your school or meeting

·         Throw an environmental dance: make everyone wear recycled clothes

·         Host an environmental education booth at a fair or community event

·         Volunteer at a community center or senior center

·         Sponsor a bike-to-school day

·         Create a nature walk around your school

·         Visit a local farmers’ market

·         Start a school recycling program

·         Plan an urban tree planting

·         Monitor a watershed

·         Adopt a block or neighborhood park

·         Clean up the schoolyard

·         Do trail restoration

·         Paint recycling bins or garbage cans with environmental slogans

·         Do storm drain stenciling

·         Join a local environmental group’s project

·         Scrub the school’s recycling bins

·         Write an article about the club or an environmental issue for the school or local newspaper

·         Volunteer at a community garden or pea patch

·         Partner with a local elementary school to teach students about the environment through art projects and skits

·         Organize community-wide phone book and battery recycling

·         Create a local “green pages” of environmentally friendly businesses in the community

·         Partner with a bike shop or bike club at your school to fix up old bikes and provide them for

·         students to ride to school

·         The list goes on and on!

 

"While being an AmeriCorps member at the Y, I have discovered my dream job. Teaching technology to youth isn't something I like to do, it's something I love to do."

                                         -Jonathan, YTech AmeriCorps

"Spending my AmeriCorps year at Metrocenter gave me everything I had hoped: working with youth, learning about non-profits and social work, and all the many different ways that Metrocenter serves the community. The best thing was the variety of things that go on at Metrocenter - I was able to both teach and learn every single day!

                                         -Hilary, Education and Youth Employment AmeriCorps